CT virtual endoscopy of the ampulla of Vater: preliminary report.

AIM: To explore multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) virtual endoscopy (CTVE) in the detection of Vater's ampulla lesions.

METHODS

In addition to 30 healthy volunteers, 18 cases of common bile duct stones, and 7 cases of ampullary carcinoma were scanned with MSCT including virtual endoscopy (VE) reconstruction. Patterns of the duodenal papilla were then observed, and its size was measured.

RESULTS

Reconstructed images of CTVE in the volunteers showed that the normal type of the duodenal papilla was nodular in 16 cases, V-shaped in 8 cases, and Y-shaped in 6 cases. Its mean diameter was 0.84 ± 0.17 cm in the healthy volunteers; in patients with common bile duct stones of nodular type, mean diameter was 1.72 ± 0.32 cm. In ampullary cancer patients with an irregular protruded type, its diameter was 2.30 ± 0.85 cm, Overall the mean differences between the groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

CTVE is a convenience, no-wound, and precise clinical examination mode utilizing which the shape of duodenal papilla can be observed, and size of the latter can be measured.